Key holder



l. NEWMAN Jan. 27, 1942..

KEY HOLDER y Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORNEY //OR NEWMAN 55 BY 273A 36d/ INVENTOR 83 l. NEWMAN Jan. 27, 1942.

KEY HOLDER Filed'Aug. 9, i940 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED l STATESim PATEN fil T ,OFFICE 23 Claims.

This invention relates to key holders.

An object of this invention is to provide :a key holder having means to individually releasably lock a plurality of suspended key supporting loops, the construction being such thatthe loops may be readily mounted on the holder, and will be automatically locked to the holder upon being mounted thereon, and said loops being individually releasable together with the keys mounted thereon; the construction beingl such, further# more, that a plurality of loops may be simultaneously released from the key holder if desired. i

A further object of this invention is tcprovide a key holder of the character described having a plurality of key supporting loops mounted thereon, each ofthe loops being locked to the key holder and beingk releasable by simply pressing a depressible member; the construction being such furthermore that the key supporting loops may be freely rotated While mounted on the key holder, to facilitate turning of thev key to open a door while holding the key holder in the hand. Another object of this invention is to provide a key holder of the character described provided with master locking means to lock all of the individually releasable locking means so that no key supporting loop can bereleased by manipulation of its individual lock, before the master locking means is released, to thus prevent accidental pressure on any of the individual locks which might release any of the loops.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key'holder of the character described having a plurality of key supporting loopsmounted thereon, each of the loops being locked to the key holder and being releasable individually by pressing a depressible member associated with said loop, and manual means to lock al1 of the v depressible members against depression to prevent accidental loss of any of the loops.

Yet a further object of this inventiony is to provide a key holder of the character described having a plurality of key supporting loops mounted thereon, and means to releasably lock the loops of the holder, the construction being such as to permit the loops to be individually released from the key holder, and the release of any loop requiring two manual operations tol insure against accidental release of any of the'loops which might occur if only a single operation were required to release a loop.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable key-hol degree in use.

(vor lvri- 456) of the character described, Which shall comprise few and simple parts, which shall be easy to manipulate, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet practical and eflicient to a high Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be inldicated inthe following claims.

p In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention, y

Fig. -1 `is a perspective View of the key holder embodying the invention, with parts broken away, and illustrating the method of releasing one of the key supporting loops; y

Fig. 2 is anenlarged, cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,; s l

Fig. 3 -is a cross-sectional View taken on line ,3 3 of Fig. 2; n

Fig. 4 is -anelevational, rear View of the portion of the key holder, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 5 is a partial View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating'the positions of one of the depressible members and the master lock to release a key vsupporting loop;

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of a part of the key holder; y .n Fig, 'l is a perspective view of anotherpart thereof;

Fig. .8 is a perspective view of the depressible lock;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the master lock;

Fig. 10 is a partial, top plan View o f a key holder embodying the invention, illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View takenon line -l I-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 isa cross-sectional view taken on line |"2-I'2 of Fig. 10;

Fig.`13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |3.I3 of Fig. 11; and g Fig. 14 is a partial, perspective view showing the,y master Vlocking bar ofFigs. l0 and 11, and the mounting therefor.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, Ill designates a key holder embodying the invention comprising a der 55 folder Il of `leather or other suitable material,

having a central portion I2 and side flaps I3 and I4 adapted to be overlapped and attached together by snap fasteners or in any other suitable manner. Stitched r otherwise fastened to the upper end of the inner side of the front section I2, as at I6, is a tab |8 substantially overlying said central section.

Attached to the tab |8 in the manner hereinafter explained, is a frame located adjacent the upper end of said tab. Said frame is preferably in the form of a casing and comprises a rear case 2| and a front case 22 attached together in the manner hereinafter appearing.` The case 2| comprises a rear wall 23 contacting the front surface of the tab I8 and having substantially the width of said tab. Extending from the` side of rear wall 23, are forwardly extending walls or flanges 24 located adjacent the side edges of the tab I8. Extending forwardly from the lower end of wall 23, is a wall or flange 26 of the same width as walls 24. Wall 23 may befformed with a longitudinally depressed reinforcing ridge 21, adjacent the upper edge thereof. Y

Said rear wall 23 is furthermore formed, adjacent the walls 24, with a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed, aligned, cut-outs f 29; and adjacent the wall 26, with a pair of spaced, parallel, symmetrically disposed, cut-outs 3|), for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Wall 26 furthermore has three spaced notches-26a, for the pur-= pose hereinafter appearing.

The case 22 is fitted over the case 2|. The former comprises a wall 32 parallel to wall 23. Extending rearwardly from the side edges of wall 32, are walls or flanges 33 contacting the outer surfaces of walls 24. Extending rearwardly from the lower edge of wall 32, is a wall or flange 34 contacting the outer surface of wall 26 of case 2 I Extending from side walls 33 are ears 35 formed with serrated end edges 36. The ears 35 are bent against the rear surface of tab I8, and the serrated edges 36 are forced into the rear surface of said tab to x the frame 20 to the tab. Extending from the walls 33 are ears 36a bent inwardly into the cut-outs 29; and extendingfrom wall 34 are ears 31 folded into the cutouts 30. Wall 34 has three notches 34a registering with notches 26a. in wall 26.

It will be noted that the ears 36 and 31 are in the plane of wall 23, thus firmly attaching the cases 2| and 22 together.

Extending upwardly from the wall 32 are a plurality of parallel, equally spaced, aligned tongues each formed with a longitudinal strengthening or reinforcing ridge 4|. The wall 32 is furthermore formed with substantially rectangular cut-outs or openings 43, aligned with the tongues 40, for the purpose hereinafter appearing'.

rIlhe frame 20 is open at its upper end, and tongues 40 terminate just below the upper end of tab I8.

Mounted on the frame 29 are a plurality of similar, parallel, spring locks 45, there being one spring lock for each tongue 40, in alignment therewith. Each spring lock is madefrom a single elongated strip of springmetal, and comprises a portion 41 contacting the inner surface of wall 32 and in alignment with one of the cutouts 43. Extending from portion 41 isa bent back portion or arm 48, connected to the portion 41 by a curved portion 46, and contacting the inner surface of wall 23 of case 2|. v

Extending from portion 41 is a forwardly humped or U-shaped portion 49 projecting through the cut-out 43. Extending upwardly from portion 49 is a portion 50 aligned with tongue 40. At the upper end of portion 58 is a bent back portion 5I contacting the inner surface of the tongue, adjacent the lower end of the latter.

It will now be understood that the resiliency of the spring metal of which the lock 45 is made, causes the humped portion 49 to be pressed forwardly through the cut-out 43 and the portion 5I to resiliently press against and contact the inner surface of the tongue 48. Upon depressing the humped portion 49, ywhich serves as a key tongue.

or push button, portions 50 and 5| are pushed rearwardly away from the tongue 40, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

YIt will now be understood that each spring lock may be depressed separately for the purpose lhereinafter appearing.

Mounted on each tongue 40, and releasably locked theretoiby' the lock V45,'is a swivel 60, on which is mounted a loop v6|.adaptedto support one or morekeys 62." The swivel 60 Vcomprises an annular ferrule 65 havingan inner cylindrical wall 66 anda circular front wall 61 formed'wit a circular central opening 68.".

Extending rearwardly from the 'cylindrical wall 66 are diametrically opposed, parallel tabs 69 formed with inwardly extending, aligned ears 10. I

Rotatably mounted within the ferrule 65 is a disc 12 having a diametric strap 13 pressed forwardly from the material thereof, and projectie ing through the opening 68 in wall 61. Engaging the strap 13 is a usual key. supporting loop 6| of the hour-glass shape'type. f

The ferrule 65 maybe slidably mounted on the tongue 40 by passing the tongue between the tabs 69 4and moving the ferrule downwardly on the Such'actionv will cause the ears 1|| to engage the bent back portion 5I of the spring lock, causing the spring lock to flex backwardly about the curved portion 46, permitting the swivel 6|) to by-pass said portion 5| of the spring lock. The swivel thereafter cannot vbe pulled off the tongue because it engages the edge of the bent back portion 5| of the spring lock, which holds the swivel on the tongue. The swivel 6I), together with rthe key supporting loop 6| and whatever keys are on said loop, mayv be instantly released by depressing the humped portion 49 to permit the swivel to be pulled off'the tongue.

It will be noted that -each swivel and loop' is separately releasably locked on one of vthe tongues, and each swivel and'its-r loop may be separately removed by depressing the humped portion of one of the spring locks. Obviously, a number of spring locks may be depressed at one time to release a plurality of desired keys. `With this construction, the person using the key holder may readily remove one of the keys from the key holder and easily return the key to the key holder.

Means is provided to prevent depression of the humped portions 49, whereby to insure against accidental loss of lkeys. To this end, there is provided amaster locking bar slidably mounted within the frame or casing 20. The locking bar 80 comprises a plate 8| disposed between portions 41 and 48 of the spring locks 45. Extending from the ends ofthe plate 8|, are similar flanges 82 contacting the inner surface of wall 32. Extending downwardly from plate 8| are three parallel aligned portions 83 passing through registering notches 26a, 34a,V the lower ends of said arms being interconnected by. a curved nger engaging fiange or handle portion 85. Plate 8| is formed with two slits 8|a permitting the flanges 82 to resiliently press against the inner surfaces of walls 24.

The bar 80 is slidably movable up yand down to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5. When the bar 80 is pushed upwardly in the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of said bar contacts portions 59 of the locking springs 45. In such position, the humped portions 49 cannot be depressed to release the key supporting loops. However, upon engaging the ange 85 with a finger-nail, and pulling the b-ar 80 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, the upper edge of the ybar moves below portions 5U of the locking springs to permit depression of the humped portions 49 to individually release the loops.

Thus, when the bar is up, the loops cannot be removed. Nevertheless, the loops may be attached to the tongues even when the bar is up, the hooks being repressed by the swivel holders 60 on sliding said holders onto tongues 40.

It will now be understood that two operations are necessary to remove any loop, one operation consisting in moving down the master bar 8U;

and the second operation being the depression y of one of the locking springs. Thus, when the key holder is carried in the pocket, accidental pressure against one of the humped portions 49 will not release a loop, to prevent accidental loss of keys.

In Figs. 10 to 14, there is illustrated a key holder lila embodying the invention, and illustrating a modified construction.

In the key holder Ia, the serrated tabs are replaced by ears 35a, riveted as at 35h to the tab I8.

Furthermore, the master locking bar 8l) is replaced by a rotary bar 90, swivelled on a plurality of aligned eyes 9| formed on the rear case 2|. The bar 98 has a handle 92 at one end eX- tending at right angles to the bar. Said bar is furthermore formed with semi-cylindrical grooves 94 aligned with the spring portions 59 of the spring locks 45. When the handle 92 is in one position, the bar contacts the spring portions to prevent depression of the humpedY portions 49 to release the key supporting loops.

When the handle 92 is turned 180 degrees, the humped portions 49 may be depressed to move the spring portions 50 into the grooves 94 to release the loops. Thus, in the key holder Illa, two operations are likewise necessary to release any of the key supporting loops.

If desired, the master locking means may be omitted.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.`

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving loops, each separately removably mounted on said member, means to individually releasably positively lock each key receiving loop on said first member and means depressible manually only independently of rthe key receiving loops, to separately release each of said loops, whereby when said loops are locked on said member, the keys thereon may be swung out of the holder and used without detaching the loops from said member, and said loops may be separately released from said member with the ,keys thereon.

2. A key holder comprising a member having a plurality of'parallel co-extensive tongues having aligned free ends, a key receiving means slidably mounted on kthe free end of each tonguefand removable therefrom to separate the key on-the key receiving means from the holder, and means to individually releasably lock each key receiving means on one of said tongues, said key receiving means being adapted to permit the keys to be swung into position for use while said means are mounted on said member.

3. A key holder comprising a member having .1 a plurality of tongues and an opening aligned with each tongue, a plurality of spring members mounted on said first member, there being one spring member for each tongue, having a depressible portion projecting through the opening associated with said tongue, and a tongue engaging portion adapted to lock a key receiving means slidably mounted on said tongue, to lsaid tongue, and each of said tongue engaging means being movable away from its tongues, upon depressing the depressible portions associated therewith.

4. A key holder comprising a frame having a plurality of parallel tongues, a key receiving member slidably mounted on each of said tongues, a spring member for each tongue having a portion engaging said tongue, and said portion being adapted to be engaged to flex said spring member, upon slidably moving a key receiving member onto said tongue, and adapted to snap into locking engagement with the key receiving member after said key receiving member passes said tongue engaging portion of said spring member, to prevent the key` receiving member from being removed from said tongue, and means for selectively moving said tongue engaging .portions of said spring members away from said tongues to individually release the key receiving members on each tongue to permit the same to slidably move off said tongue.

5. A key holder comprising a tab, a casing comprising a rear case having a rear wall contacting said tab and forwardly extending side walls anda forwardly extending bottom wall, a front case fitted over the rear case and having a front wall parallel to said rear wall, and side walls contacting the outer surfaces of said first mentioned side walls, and a bottom wall contacting the first mentioned bottom wall, tabs on the sidewalls of said second casel bent against the rear surface of said first tab, said front wall being formed with upwardly projecting parallel tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, spring members within said housing having humped portions projecting through said openings and tongue engaging portions, contacting the rear surfaces o f said tongues.

6. A key holder comprising a tab, a' casing comprising a rear case having a rear wall contacting said tab and forwardly extending side walls and a forwardly extending `bottom wall, a front case fitted over the rear case and having a front wall parallel to lsaid rear wall, and side walls contacting the outer surfaces of said first mentioned side walls, and a bottom wall Contact ing the iirst mentioned bottom wall, tabs on the side walls of said second case bent against the rear surface of said first tab, said front wall being formed with upwardly projecting parallel tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, spring members Within said housing having humped portions projecting through said openings and tongue engaging portions, contacting the rear surfaces of said tongues, said rear wall having a plurality of out-outs, and tabs on the side and bottom walls of the second cas'e bent into said cut-outs to fix the cases together.

'7. A key holder comprising a tab, a casing comprising a rear case having a rear wallcontacting said tab and forwardly extending side walls and a forwardly extending bottom wall, a front case tted over the rear case and having a front wall parallel to said rear wall, and side walls contacting the outer surfaces of said first mentioned side walls, and a bottom wall contacting the first mentioned bottom wall, tabs on the side walls of said second case bent against the rear surface of said rst tab, said front wall being formed with upwardly projecting parallel tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, spring members within said housing having humped portions projecting through said openings and tongue engaging portions, contacting the rear surfaces of said tongues, said rear wall having a plurality of cut-outs, tabs on the side andbottom walls of the second case bent into said cut-outs to i-lx the cases together, and key receiving members slidably mounted on said tongues and adapted to be individually locked by said tongue engaging portions, said key receiving members being individually releasable upon depressing said humped portions to move said tongue engaging portions away from said tongues.

8. In a key holder, a casing having a rear Wall and a front wall, said casing being open at its upper end and said front wall being formed with an upwardly extending tongue and with an opening aligned with said tongue, a spring member within said casing having a portion contacting the inner surface of the front wall above said opening, and a bent back arm contacting the' inner surface of the rear wall, and a humped portion extending from said first portion and projecting through said opening in the front wall, and a portion extending upwardly from said humped portion, the upper end of said upwardly extending portion being bent back and engaging the tongue.

9. In a key holder, a casing having a rear Wall and a front wall, said casing being open at its upper end and said front wall being formed with an upwardly extending tongue and with an opening aligned with said tongue, a spring member within said casing having a portion contacting the inner surface of the front wall above said opening, and a bent back arm c-ontacting the inner surface of the rear wall, a humped portion extending from said first portion and projecting through said opening in the front wall, a portion extending upwardly from said humped portion, the upper end of said upwardly extending portion being bent back and engaging the tongue, and a key receiving means slidably mounted on said tongue and adapted to engage said tongue engaging portion to by-pass the same, and said tongue engaging portion being adapted to lock said key receiving means to retain the same on said tongue, said tongue engaging portion being movable away from said tongue upon depressing said humped portion, to release said key receiving means.

10; In a key holder, a casing having a rear .wall and a front wall, and being open at the top, the front wall being formed with a plurality of parallel, aligned, upwardly extending tongues and with openings ,aligned with said tongues, spring means engaging each tongue, and depressible means projecting through each opening and adapted to move the tongue engaging means associated therewith away from its tongue.

11. In a key holder, a casing having a front wall and a rear Wall, and being open at the top, said front wall being formed with a plurality of aligned, parallel, spaced tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, a plurality of spring members within said casing, each having a portion contacting the rear surface of said iront wall, above one of said openings, and a bent back arm contacting the front surface of the rear Wall, a humped portion projecting through said opening, and an arm extending upwardly from said humped portion and projecting through the open end of said casing, the upper end of said last arm being bent'back forwardly and engaging the'rear surface of one of said tongues.

12. In a key holder, a casing having a front wall and a rear wall, and being open at the top, said front wall being formed with a plurality of aligned, parallel, spaced tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, a plurality of spring members within said casing, each having a portion contacting the rear surface of said iront wall, above one of said openings, and a bent back arm contacting the front surface of the rear wall, a humped portion projecting through said opening, an arm extending upwardly from said humped portion and projecting through the open end of said casing, the upper end of said last arm being bent back forwardly and engaging the rear surface of one of said tongues, and a key receiving member slidably mounted on each of said tongues and having means to engage the bent back portion of one of the spring members at the lower end of the arm of said spring member, to by-pass said bent back portion, said bent back portionbeing adapted to engage said key receiving member.v to lock the same to said tongue, and said bent back portions being movable away from said tongues upon depressing said humped portions, to release said key receiving members.

13. In a key holder, a casing having a front wall anda rearwall, and being open at the top, said front wall being formed with a plurality of aligned, parallel, spaced tongues and with openings aligned with said tongues, a plurality of spring members within said casing, each having a portion contacting the rear surface of said front wall, below one of said openings, and a bent back arm contacting the front surface of the rear wall, a humped portion projecting through said opening, and an arm extending upwardly from said humped portion and projecting through the open end of said casing, the upper end of said last arm being bent back forwardly and engaging the rear surface 'of one of said tongues, and a locking barv slidably mounted in the casing and adapted in one position to prevent depression of the humped portions.

14. A key holder comprising a membena plurality of key receiving members removably mounted on said first member, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving member on said first member, Aand releasable master means to prevent release of any 'of the individually releasable locking means.

15. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving members removably mounted on said rst member, and means to individually lock each key receiving member on said rst member, said means being adapted to individually release one of the key receiving members and requiring two manual operations to release the same.

16. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving members removably mounted on said first member, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving member on said first member, said means comprising a spring engaging each key receiving member, depressible means to iiex the spring to release said key receiving member, and releasable means to prevent exing of the spring.

17. A key holder comprising a member having a plurality of parallel tongues, a key receiving means slidably mounted on each tongue, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving means on one of said tongues, and releasable means to prevent release of the individually releasable locking means.

18. A key holder comprising a member having a plurality of parallel tongues, a key receiving means slidably mounted on each tongue, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving means on one of said tongues, and means to prevent release of the individually releasable locking means, said last means comprising a member slidably mounted on the rst member and adapted in one position to engage the lock means and in another position to be out of engagement with respect to said lock means.

19. In a key holder, a casing having a rear wall and a iront wall, and being open at the top, the front wall being formed with a plurality of parallel, aligned, upwardly extending tongues and with openings aligned with said tongue, spring means engaging each tongue, depressible means projecting through each opening and adapted to move the tongue engaging means associated therewith away from its tongue, and movable means within said casing adapted in one position to engage said spring means and .prevent said depressible means from being depressed and in another position to permit said depressible means to be depressed.

20. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving loops separately removably mounted on said member, means to individually releasably lock each loop to said member, said locking means being adapted` to automatically positively lock said loop to said member upon mounting said loop on said member, and requiring manual actuation independent of said loops,

to individually release each loop, said loops being adapted to suspend the keys and permit the keys thereon to be swung out in position for use' while the loops are attached to said member.

21. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving means removably mounted thereon, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving means to said member, said locking means being adapted to automatically lock said key receiving means to said member upon mounting said key receiving means on said member, and requiring manual actuation to individually release each key receiving means, and master lock means movably mounted on said member and adapted in one position to prevent release of the individually releasable lock means, and in another position permit release of the individually releasable lock means.

22. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receivingmeans removably mounted thereon, means to individually releasably lock each key receiving means to said member, said locking means being adapted to automatically lock said key receiving means to said member.

upon mounting said keyy receiving means on said member, and requiring manual actuation to individually release each key receiving means, and master lock means movably mounted on said member and adapted in one position tov prevent release of the individually releasable lock means, and in another position 'permit release of the individually releasable lock means, said master means being adapted to permit mounting of the key receiving means on said member to be automatically locked by the individually releasable lock means, even when saidmaster means is in position to prevent release of the individually releasable lock means.

23. A key holder comprising a member, a plurality of key receiving members each separately removably mounted on said first member, and means to individually releasably lock each key receiving member on said first member, said key receiving members including means to suspend keys in the holder, and permit the keys to be swung out of the holder for use While the key receiving members are attached to the first member, said lock means being adapted to automatically positively lock said key receiving members upon mounting said key receiving members on the first member, and said lock means being manually releasable only independently of the key receiving'means, to permit removal of the key receiving members from the rst member.

ISIDOR NEWMAN, 

